Installation of piling



M y 1964 1.. B. PARKER ETAL 3, 3

INSTALLATION OF FILING Original Filed Nov. 12, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG. I.

|NVENTORS( ARTHUR L. GUY, LEON B- PARKER,

AT Y- y 1964 L. B. PARKER ETAL INSTALLATION OF FILING Original FiledNov. 12, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

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y 26, 11964 L. B. PARKER ETAL 3,134,235

INSTALLATION OF FILING Original Filed Nov. 12, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I416 l '4 I5 29 1' INVENTORS. ARTHUR L. GUY, LEON B- PARKER,

TORNE May 26, 1 964 L. B. PARKER ETAL INSTALLATION 0F FILING OriginalFiled Nov. 12, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

- ARTHUR L. GUY,

BY LEON B PARKER 3,134,235 INSTALLATION OF PILING Leon B. Parker andArthur L. Guy, Houston, Tex., as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company,Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Original application Nov. 12,1959, Ser. No. 852,303. Divided and this application Aug. 17, 1960, Ser.No.

Claims. or. 61-46) The present invention is directed to a method forinstalling a piling assembly adjacent a marine structure.Moreparticularly, the invention is concerned with the installation ofauxiliary pilingrelative to a marine structure for bracing thestructure. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned witha piling and strut assembly for strengthening a marine structure.

This application is a division of Serial No. 852,303, entitled Methodand Apparatus for Installing Piling, filed November 12, 1959, for LeonB. Parker and Arthur L. Guy, Jr.

The present invention may be briefly described as a method for placingand installing auxiliary piling relative to a marine structure forbracing the structure in which a piling and strut assembly is employed.The strut of the assembly is hingedly connected to the piling adjacentone end with the strut assembly folded upwardly substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of the piling in driving position. The pilingof the assembly has releasably connected to it at one end a drivingmandrel and the piling is then spudded and driven into the marine bottomuntil the one end is adjacent the marine bottom andthe freeend of thestrut is above water level. The mandrel is released and removed and thestrut is unfolded and connected at its free end to the structure. Theassembly is located and oriented in plan relative to the structure andthe orienting of the strut may be performed before, after, or duringspudding the piling into the marine bottom.

. The invention also involves an assembly for strengthening a marinestructure which comprises a piling having a ring arranged thereonadjacent one end. The ring may be fixedly arranged on the piling or itmay be rotatably arranged on the piling. A strut is attached to the ringby a clevis means on one end of the strut and a pin means whereby thestrut is hingeable and foldable to a position substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the piling, the free end of the strut beingadapted for connection to the structure. The free end of the strut maybe telescoped with one section movable relative to another section forconnection to the structure or it may be formed into one member onconnection to the structure.

Theclevis means on the strut is adapted to matingly receive a platemember which is attached to the ring, and the clevis means and the platemember are each provided with a port through which the pin means isarranged for hingedly attaching the strut to the ring. The clevis andplate member for matingly attaching the strut to the ring may bereversed; i.e., the clevis may be on thering and the plate member maybeon the strut. Likewise,

the clevis means may be adapted to receiving more than one plate on themating part.

The piling is suitably tapered for lateral strength and for driving intomarine bottom and the strut may alsoi be tapered on its free end. 3

The marine structure may suitably be a platform, tower, caisson, pilingor other offshore marine structures suitable for supporting drillingoffshore well production structures and the like but notlim'itedther'etol The marine structure. may suitably be supported byupright members on which means are arranged whichare verticallyadjustable thereon. By attaching the free end of the strut to thevertically adjustable means, it is possible to adjust the arrangement ofthe bracing structure for best utilization of the present invention.

It is contemplated that the struts may be partially or completely filledwith concrete to provide strength and weight for the structure, and itis further contemplated that the struts of the present invention may beprovided with a sleeve or jacket adjacent water level for protectionagainst corrosion. I

i In the present invention a pile-founded bracing system.

for marine structures is provided which is installed without the use ofdivers. The bracing system of the present astrut attachment.

ture. 3

Referring now to the drawings 'and particularly to FIGS.

- end invention is suitably driven under water .adjacent to an oifshoredrilling platform, for example, andtheir connected to the structureabove water to provide structural integrity and to impart lateralstrength. This is quite important in that wave forces encountered, forexample in the Gulf of Mexico during a hurricane, are sometimesdestructive to offshore drilling platforms. The present invention alsoprovides for a complete preassembly of the bracing structures with thepiles before installation and provides for the struts to remain affixedto the pile-while driving. The present invention also provides a bracingsystem which affords a minimum. projected area to wave forces. Y a

In the practice of the present invention, the piles are locatedexteriorly to the corners and sides of a rectangular platform. Each pileand strut assembly comprises a pile with one or more struts hingedlyattached by pins at theirlower ends to plates which, in turn, are weldedto the head of the pile or attached by pins to plates welded to arotatable ringor rings. The rings in turn are affixed on the upper endof the pile but are prevented from mov- I ing along the pile by means ofstop rings and other stop means. In the caseof pile and strut assemblieslocated externally to the corners of a structure, the strutson each pileare inclined ,to' intersect and connectto mainvertical members of thestructure, the vertical members lying planes apart. The upper or" freeend of the struts may suitably be'connected to the vertical membersabove I water by welding. The piles on each of the four corners arelocated in .plan such that the struts on thesame side of the platformcross over and pass'each other with clear.-

ance. The struts may either be uniform in size or tapered at one or bothends, but preferably. the free ends, while the piles may also beuniformin size or tapered toward the lower end.

The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to thedrawing in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pile driver located on a barge and in theprocess of driving a piling assembly; ,FIG. 3 is an elevational view ofan elf-shore platform structure braced in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIGS. 5 and 5a areviews illustrating one modification of the attachment of the struts tothe piling; A

p FIGS. 6 and 6a illustrate another modification ofarstrut attachment; 1

FIGS. 7 and 7a FIGS. 8, 9,-10 and ll illustrate various means 'forattaching the upper ends of thestruts to the platformstruc- 1 and 2,numeral 6 generally'designatesfa'pile driver as} reciprocating hammer11. I

The assembly 6 is shown in the process of driving a piling assembly 12which is connected into the lower end lot the driving mandrel 9'and heldin place by a' frangible PatentedMay 26,. 1964 illustrate still anothermodification of.

pin 13. The assembly 12 is comprised of a piling 14 and struts 15 and16. The piling assembly 12 is being driven into the bottom 17 of amarine location 18. The struts 15 and 16 are connected to the piling 14by a clevis 19 which matingly receives a plate 20 attached to piling 14.The plate 20 is provided with a strengthening flange 22. The struts 15and 16 are suitably lashed into position by suitable lines 23. Thelashing or line 23 is secured to the driving mandrel 9 to maintain thestruts 15 and 16 in position for driving the piling 14 at the marinelocation 18 and to water bottom 17.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, piling such as 14 have been drivenadjacent an offshore marine structure 25 until the upper ends 26 of thepiling 14 are aligned adjacent the marine bottom 17, the struts 15 and16 being attached by way of reinforcing sleeve 28 to the verticalsupporting members 27 which are driven into the marine bottom '17. Thestruts 15 and 16 are suitably attached by welding directly to verticalsupporting members 27 or by way of sleeves 28, which may. be slidably orfixedly arranged on the supporting means'27. Thefree ends of the struts15 and 16 are formed to be received matingly by the cylindrical surfacesof member 27 or the sleeves 28 and are suitably welded thereto; Thestruts 15 and 16 are also provided-with jackets or sleeves 29 ofcorrosion-resistant material such as Monel for protection againstcorrosion since the sleeves are arranged above and below the water level30 of the marine location 18. The struts may suitably be filled withconcrete or other cementitious material and the like to provide mass tothe structure and to provide the struts with greater resistance todamage resulting from both internally and externally applied forces suchas stresses generated in the strut itself and from floating objects suchas boats-and debris.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pilings 14 is suitably constructed of an uppersection 31, which is of constant diameter, and a lower section 32, whichis of reduced diameter, connected by a conical section 33. In short, thepiling 14 may taper downwardly and may be ofiseveralsections ofdifferent diameter but may have its outer wall tapering continuouslydownwardly;

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 5A, the piling 14 has attached thereto bywelding plate member 26 which is supported by flange supporting member22, the struts 15 and 16 being supplied with clevis 19 which matinglyreceives the plate 20. Cooperating bores are provided in the clevis 19and plate 20, respectively, and adapted to receive a pin member which isinserted through the clevis member 19 and the plate 20 to hingedlyconnect the struts 15 and 16 to the piling 14. The pin member 35 isretained in place by a key member 35a. It is to be noted that the piling14 is internally strengthened adjacent the point of attachment of thestruts 15 and 16 by stiffening plates 14a and 14b.

In FIGS. 6 and 6A, a preferred form or embodiment ing member 22 islikewise attached to ring 21. By virtue' of the embodiment of FIGS. 6and 6A, orienting of the piling 14, before or during 'spudding, may notbe required. However, it may be desirable to orient the piling-14 relative'to the'structure 25 so that the struts 15 and 16 are properlypositioned and related thereto. I

ReferringftoFIGS. 7 and 7A, rings 21 and 21" are rotatably'provided' onpiling 14 and maintained'thereon with stop rings or collars 21a and21]). In this embodiment, the str'iit' 15 'is hingedly attached to ring21' while thestrut 16 is hingedlyattached to ring 21". Also, inthisemobdiment, the clevis 19 and plate 20 are reversed, a clevis 19being attached to each of the rings 21' and 21" and strengthened withflange supporting member 22. The plate member 20 is attached to struts15 or 16 and the plate member 20 and clevis 19 are provided withcooperating bores to receive pin member 35 which is held in place by keymember 35a. It is to be emphasized that the clevis 19 and plate 20 maybe used on either member, or in effect, clevises may be used on bothmembers to provide additional strength at the point of hingedattachment.

In the several embodiments of FIGS. 5, 5A, 6, 6A, and 7 and 7A,strengthening plates 14a and 1422 are provided. Plate 14a is locatedadjacent the pin 31 and plate 14b is adjacent the supporting flangemember 22.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the strut 15 or 16 may be attached to thestructure 25 as described hereinafter. In this embodiment, the taperedWeldrnent member 36 with matingly formed end 37 is oriented, inclinedand welded to member 28, arranged on'the supporting member 27 such as tobe in alignment with the strut 15 or 16in final position. The strut 15or 16 is then unfolded or moved and its free end 36' cut away such as bya cutting torch to provide for rotation into alignment with the free endof member 36. A joining or splice member 36" is then fitted into thespace between members 36 and 36 and the abutting ends of members 36 and36' welded to splice member 36" to form an integral strut 15 or 16braced and joined to structure 25. A Monel sleeve or jacket 29 is thenplaced about the upper end of the strut as shown.

Referring now to FIG. 9, which illustrates a preferred embodiment, thestrut 15 or 16 is provided with a jacket 29 of Monel metal to protectthe strut 15 or 16 from corrosion. Arranged in the upper end of thestrut 15 or 16 is a telescopic member 3% which is movable relative tothe strut 15 or 16 with the telescopic member 38 being formed at itsfree end 39 to receive matingly the sleeve 28, which may be verticallyadjustable on the supporting member 27. After the strut 15 or 16 hasbeen adjusted for attachment to the supporting member 27, the telescopicmember 38 may be welded at points 40 to the struts 15 or 16 and'the freeend 39, in turn, welded to the sleeve 28 supporting member 27. that thepoints 46 provided a large surface for welding attachment by virtue ofthe toothed-shaped edge. It is contemplated that a saw-toothed orscalloped pattern may also be used.

FIGS IO and 11 illustrate various patterns of the welding points 46which may be formed in the upper end of the struts 15 and 16 where theyare connected to the telescopic member 38.

It is to be noted that the supporting members 27 are provided withsleeves or jackets 41 likewise constructed of Monel metal for protectionof the structure against corrosion in the area above and below the waterlevel 30.

The present invention is of considerable importance and utility in thatit is possible to provide increased strength to existing marinestructures or to reinforce newly constructed marine equipment. Forexample, it sometimes is desirable to drill additional wells from anoffshore platform such as 25; but because of inadequate lateralstrength, this cannot be done although adequate floor area for drillingsuch wells might be available. Also, the structure might not besufficiently strong to withstand increased hurricane forces, includingwind and water action, which are encountered in the Gulf of Mexico. Thepresentinvention'provides a method and means for strengthening 'anexisting structure or providing any structure with additional strength.

In the practice of the present invention, the, apparatus such asillustrated inthe drawing, including a pile and strut assembly, isfabricated on shore with the two struts folded and lashed togetheralongside the pile in the final upward direction. The'asse'mbly isaccurately locatedin plan With relationtoa corner of the platform orstructure and is spudded into the ground. .Previous to lifting It is tobe noted -the pile and strut assembly 12 from a barge 8, shown in FIG.1, a pipe-driving mandrel of appropriate length is inserted into the topof the pile and lashed to support the weight of the assembly whilelifting it! The temporary connection between the mandrel and the pilemay be frangible such that when the head of the pile is driven tobelowor adjacent mud level, a pull on the mandrel will shear theconnection and allow retrieval of t the mandrel without using divers.Before, after or during spudding,

the pile is oriented accurately such that the struts will lie in theproper-plane in the unfolded position. When rotatable rings are notused, orienting must be quite accurate, but when rotatable rings areemployed, extreme accuracy of orientation is not requiredexcepting thatthe struts be arranged on the side adjacent the structure. Thereafter,using a pile driver, the pile driving hammer is placed on top of themandrel and the pile is driven under water until the strut connection isapproximately located even with the soil or the marine bottom. Thestruts are unlashed from the mandrel and folded outwardly by virtue ofthe hinged pin at their lower ends and connected to the appropriatelocation on the marine structure such as by Welding or by other means asmay be desired. The mandrel is then removed from the top of the pile andthe steps may then be repeated for the remaining pile and strutassemblies for the remaining corners of the platform or along its sides.

Piling driven in accordance with the present invention have withstoodthe enormous forces encountered during driving without endangering theconnection. For example, accelerations which may be as much as 100 timesgravity and forces ranging upwardly to 1,200,000 pounds have beenwithstood satisfactorily in driving and installing the presentinvention, as illustrated in the drawing.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful andsecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A method for placing and installing a piling and strut assemblyrelative to a marine structure for bracing said structure, the strut ofsaid assembly being hingedly connected to said piling adjacent the upperend and laterally offset thereof with the strut of said assembly foldedupwardly substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pilingin driving position, which comprises releasably connecting a drivingmandrel to said assembly, spudding and driving said assembly into marinebottom until said upper end of said piling of said assembly is adjacentmarine bottom and the free end of said strut is above water level,unfolding said strut, releasing and removing said mandrel, andconnecting said unfolded strut at its free end to said structure, saidassembly being located and oriented relative to said structure.

2. A method for placing and installing a piling and strut assemblyrelative to a marine structure for bracing said structure, the strut ofsaid assembly being hingedly connected to said piling adjacent the upperend and laterally offset thereof with the strut of said assembly foldedupwardly substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pilingin driving position, which comprises releasably connecting a drivingmandrel to said assembly, spudding and driving said assembly into marinebottom until said upper end of said piling of said assembly is adjacentmarine bottom and the free end of said strut is above Water level,unfolding said strut, connecting said unfolded strut at its free end tosaid structure, and releasing and removing said mandrel, said assemblybeing located and oriented relative to said structure.

3. A method for placing and installing a piling and strut assemblyrelative to a marine structure for bracing said structure, the strut ofsaid assembly being hingedly connected to said piling adjacent the upperend and laterally offset thereof with the strut of said assembly foldedupwardly substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pilingin driving position, which comprises releasably connecting to said upperend, of said pilin of said assembly a driving mandrel, locating saidassembly in plan relative; to said structure. with the lower. end ofsaid piling on marinebottom, spudding and driving said piling of saidassembly into marinebottom until said upper end is adjacent marinebottom and the free end of said strut is above water level, unfoldingsaid strut, and connecting said unfolded strut at its free. .end to saidstructure, said assembly also being oriented relative to said structure.

4. A method in accordance with claim '3 wherein said mandrel is releasedand removed. I

5; A'met-hod for placing and; installing agpiling and strut assemblyrelativeto a marine structure forbracing said structure, the strut ofsaid assembly being hingedly connected to said piling and laterallyoffset thereof with the strut of said assembly folded upwardlysubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said piling indriving position, which comprises releasably connecting to said upperend of the piling of said assembly a driving mandrel, locating saidassembly in plan relative to said struc ture with the lower end of saidpiling on marine bottom, orienting said assembly, driving said piling ofsaid assembly into marine bottom until said upper end of said piling isadjacent marine bottom and the free end of said strut is above waterlevel, unfolding said strut, and connecting said unfolded strut at itsfree end to said structure.

6. A method for placing and installing a piling and strut assemblyrelative to a marine structure for bracing said structure, said assemblybeing provided with two spaced struts, the struts of said assembly beinghingedly and rotatably connected to said piling and laterally offsetthereof and the struts of said assembly folded upwardly substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of said piling in driving position,which comprises releasably connecting to the upper end of the piling ofsaid assembly a driving mandrel, locating said assembly in plan relativeto said structure with the lower end of said piling on marine bottom,spudding and driving said piling of said assembly into marine bottomuntil said upper end of said piling is adjacent marine bottom and thefree ends of said struts are above water level, unfolding and orientingsaid struts, and fixably connecting said unfolded struts at their freeends to said structure.

7. A method for placing and installing a piling and str-ut assemblyrelative to a marine structure for bracing said structure, the strut ofsaid assembly being hingedly connected to said piling adjacent the upperend and laterally offset thereof with the strut of said assembly foldedupwardly substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pilingin driving position, which comprises releasably connecting to said upperend of the piling of said assembly a driving mandrel, orienting andspudding said assembly relative to said structure with the lower end ofsaid piling on marine bottom, driving said piling of said assembly intomarine bottom until said upper end is adjacent marine bottom and thefree end of said strut is above water level, unfolding said strut, andconnecting said unfolded strut at its free end to said structure.

8. A method for placing and installing a piling land strut assemblyrelative to a marine structure for bracing said structure, the strut ofsaid assembly being hingedly connected to said piling and laterallyoffset thereof with the strut of said assembly folded upwardlysubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said piling indriving position, which comprises locating said assembly in planrelative to said structure, spudding and driving said piling of saidassembly into marine bottom until the connection of the strut and thepiling is adjacent marine bottom and the free end of said strut is abovewater level, unfolding said strut, and connecting said unfolded strut atits free end to said structure, said assembly also being orientedrelative to said structure.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 in which the assembly is orientedduring spudding of said piling into and rotatably connected to saidpiling and laterally offset thereof with the strut of said assemblyfolded upwardly substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidpiling in driving position, which comprises locating said assembly inplan relatiye to said structure, spudding and driving said piling ofsaid assembly into marine bottom until the connection of the strut andthe piling is adjacent marine bottom and the free end of said strut isabove Water level, unfolding and orienting said strut, and conmeetingsaid unfolded strut atits free end to said structure.

7 References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTSAdickes Mar. 28, 1961 'FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden May 9, 1940

1. A METHOD FOR PLACING AND INSTALLING A PILING AND STRUT ASSEMBLYRELATIVE TO A MARINE STRUCTURE FOR BRACING SAID STRUCTURE, THE STRUT OFSAID ASSEMBLY BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID PILING ADJACENT THE UPPEREND AND LATERALLY OFFSET THEREOF WITH THE STRUT OF SAID ASSEMBLY FOLDEDUPWARDLY SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID PILINGIN DRIVING POSITION, WHICH COMPRISES RELEASABLY CONNECTING A DRIVINGMANDREL TO SAID ASSEMBLY, SPUDDING AND DRIVING SAID ASSEMBLY INTO MARINEBOTTOM UNTIL SAID UPPER END OF SAID PILING OF SAID ASSEMBLY IS ADJACENTMARINE BOTTOM AND THE FREE END OF SAID STRUT IS ABOVE WATER LEVEL,UNFOLDING SAID STRUT, RELEASING AND REMOVING SAID MANDREL, ANDCONNECTING SAID UNFOLDED STRUT AT ITS FREE END TO SAID STRUCTURE, SAIDASSEMBLY BEING LOCATED AND ORIENTED RELATIVE TO SAID STRUCTURE.